CAN'T HELP BUT SHARE

The results are in and consumers are saying that Visit Orlando's new brand campaign is doing exactly what it was designed to do. An independent, third-party firm recently evaluated the effectiveness of our new television commercial against proven industry benchmarks.

Members of our target audience residing in cities such as New York, Chicago, Atlanta, Philadelphia and Miami said that they felt Visit Orlando's new ad broke through the clutter of other advertising. It also portrayed Orlando as a place for families and created a desire to visit, they added.

Maybe best of all in this age of an endless number of barriers to quality time with family and a propensity for people to influence others through social media, consumers are saying that Visit Orlando's new ad does a great job of building a sense of togetherness, communicating the importance of making memories and reminding so many of our millions of visitors that they have unforgettable, heartwarming stories they can't help but share.

-George Aguel

Consumer Confidence Improves in September

The Conference Board's Consumer Confidence Index rose to 103.0 in September from 101.3 in August. The index has risen two consecutive months after fluctuating much of the year and is close to the post-recession high of 103.8 set in January 2015. The Present Situation component of the index rose sharply in September to an 8-year high, indicating consumers view current economic conditions more favorably than in recent months. The Expectations component, however, was little changed from August and suggests consumers do not foresee growth accelerating in the months ahead. Click here to read more.

Visit Orlando Hosts Mexican Journalists on JetBlue's First Flight from Mexico City to Orlando

Eight Mexican journalists recently traveled to Orlando via JetBlue's inaugural flight from Mexico City for a familiarization tour. They stayed at the Rosen Shingle Creek and visited theme parks and area attractions, fine dining restaurants, Downtown Orlando, Winter Park and Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts, as well as various shopping venues.

World Tourism Job Shadow Day a Success

In celebration of World Tourism Day, Visit Orlando partnered with the Rosen College of Hospitality Management to give students the opportunity to shadow employers who best suit their career interests. More than 75 students participated in the program, thanks to the 30-plus companies and industry volunteers that helped provide a hands-on learning experience. Among this year's participants were Walt Disney World, SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment, Loews Hotels & Resorts at Universal Orlando, Westgate Resorts, Wyndham Vacation Ownership, and many others.

Visit Orlando Welcomes the Brand USA/Lufthansa Germany Megafam

Visit Orlando hosted a Brand USA/Lufthansa Germany mega FAM from Oct. 1-6. The group included 12 participants: 10 travel agents and one representative from both Lufthansa and Visit Orlando. The participants were chosen from 7,000 qualifying travel agents who enjoyed VIP experiences at Orlando's theme parks, attractions, dining, shopping and hotel site visits. They also took many pictures in hopes to win Lufthansa's photo challenge.

Visit Orlando Hosts the Orlando Travel Academy FAM

In partnership with Southwest Airlines Vacations, Visit Orlando's Travel Industry Sales team hosted 12 of Southwest's top selling agents, who are also Orlando Travel Academy graduates, for a familiarization tour from Sept. 28-Oct. 3. The Sheraton Vistana Resort Villas and Sonesta ES Suites Orlando accommodated the participants, who were able to take part in Visit Orlando's Magical Dining^SM Month and experience highlights of what our destination has to offer, including Universal Orlando Resort, Walt Disney World, SeaWorld Orlando, I-Drive 360, WonderWorks, I-Ride Trolley and more.

Convention Sales Team Attends 16th Annual ASAE Summit Awards

On Sept. 30, Visit Orlando and the Orange County Convention Center team attended the 16th Annual American Society of Association Executives (ASAE) Summit Awards in Washington, DC. More than 1,000 business, association and industry leaders joined together to network and honor the Power of Associations. The event credits the accomplishments of outstanding volunteers from organizations that have improved society, informed the public, set standards and helped individuals develop new skills. Proceeds from the dinner benefit the Power of A, which supports ASAE's work in promoting the association community.

Trade Show Executive's 2015 Gold 100 Awards & Summit Salutes Elite Execs

From Sept. 30-Oct. 2, Fred Shea from Visit Orlando and Kathie Canning from the Orange County Convention Center attended the Trade Show Executive's 2015 Gold 100 Awards & Summit in Santa Barbara, California. The event salutes the executives who have guided their shows into the elite ranking of the 100 largest shows in the nation. This top-tier group includes CEOs, show organizers, vice presidents, group show managers and others who have set the Gold Standard for the trade show industry. Orlando was well represented with 12 of the top 100 shows being held here. Above, from left: Karen Malone of Healthcare Information & Management Systems Society, Fred Shea of Visit Orlando and Keegan Hooks of SAP America

Visit Orlando's Adrienne Six Accepts Top CMP Influencer Award

Director of Destination Services Adrienne Six, CMP, attended the Convention Industry Council (CIC) Conclave, Sept. 26-28 in Reno, Nevada, where she received her award as one of the Top 30 CMP Influencers in the country. CIC announced the recipients of its first peer-nominated influencers campaign, launched in honor of the CMP Program's 30th anniversary. CMP30 Influencers are CMPs who have made a substantial impact on their colleagues and communities and whose contributions have left an indelible mark on the global meetings and events industry. These 30 individuals exemplify the spirit of CMP credentials: professionalism, credibility and excellence. Visit Orlando is proud to share Adrienne's achievement with our community and congratulates the full list of recipients. Please visit click here to learn more about the award.

Next Week at the Convention Center

Orlando Sanford International Airport Announces New Service

ABC's 'The Chew' on Location at Epcot Food Fest

The Epcot International Food & Wine Festival is celebrating 20 years with the co-hosts of one of ABC's most popular shows.

Local Hotel Software and Advertising Company to Add 70 Jobs

A locally-grown hotel software company is planning to add 70 new jobs in the next three years, according to an announcement Tuesday.

From Motherboards to Hoverboards: Orlando Tech Biz Shines at OrlandoiX

Home-made Millennium Falcons and a hoverboard experience are no longer dreams. They are reality, thanks to the Orlando tech community.

Gas Prices Jump 20 Cents Overnight

The gift of gas under $2 a gallon ended Wednesday as prices shot up as much as 20 cents a gallon overnight at many Central Florida stations, but experts said Wednesday that cheaper fuel should be back soon.

New Chocolate Shop Set for Disney Springs

A chocolate shop called the Ganachery will open at Disney Springs, the new incarnation of Downtown Disney, later this year.

Universal's NBC Sports Restaurant Sets Opening Date

Sports fans, rejoice! The NBC Sports Grill & Brew at Universal Orlando opens this month.

Blizzard Beach's Winter Renovations Start, More Disney Projects Begin

It's that time again when Disney's Blizzard Beach closes for renovations during the winter season.

Senate Bill Filed to Expand Visa Waiver Program

Lawmakers in the Senate are moving to expand a visa program that allows for easy entry into the United States for people with Western passports, despite fears about potential terrorist attacks that have been raised.

U.S. Travel Cheers Trans-Pacific Partnership

After years of negotiations, an agreement was reached Monday on the Trans-Pacific Partnership, a trade deal that will be a boon to the travel industry, said U.S. Travel Association CEO Roger Dow.

How Smart Meeting Planners Are Booking the Best Destinations

All meeting planners vie for the best destination for their programs, but getting top destinations like Orlando, Las Vegas, and Atlanta can be difficult.

Predict 2015 Marks Another Great Success for CEIR and the Overall Exhibition Industry

Industry insiders presented topics on notable trends within the trade show industry and how they will affect the way in which organizers approach their strategies for increasing their exhibitions' performance.

How Hotels Are Catering to Multigenerational Travelers

The words "multigenerational" and "millennial" have at least two things in common: They both begin with the letter M, and they are both key in defining the travel industry.

Vacation: It Works

Turns out, the United States is the only developed country not to require employers to provide paid time off, and according to a study by Oxford Economics, Americans are using less vacation time than ever.